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Monday, April 24, 2017

Prince George’s County Firefighters as well as personnel
from Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard and the District of Columbia battled a
fire today at a building under construction in College Park. The Fuse 47 building was slated to have about
to 250 apartments, retail stores and a parking garage and was scheduled for occupancy in July
2017.

At about 9:35 am, Monday, April 24, firefighters were
alerted to a fire in a building still under construction.When firefighters arrived at 4700 Berwyn House Road in College Park they found a
7-story mid-rise commercial/residential building with fire showing from 6th
floor on the building east side.As
firefighters stretched hose lines and alerted construction workers to evacuate
the building the fire rapidly extended to the top floor and roof. Firefighters were soon evacuated from interior firefighting and extinguishment was left to master water stream devices on ladder trucks.

5 Alarms were sounded with over 200 firefighters and medics
working to extinguish the fire that consumed the roof of the city block long
building until mid afternoon when the fire was considered contained and under
control.The firefight will continue
throughout tonight and into Tuesday morning.Hotspots and hard to reach areas continue to burn.Firefighters will remain on the scene flowing
water into the structure.No
firefighters are being allowed to re-enter the structure.

Today’s rainy weather caused the thick smoke to lay close to
the ground and forced the relocation of 68 residents of the senior city
building across the street to relocate.Residents of the Gladys Spellman House were relocated to the College
Park Community Center to avoid the smoke that filled their building. Residents were allowed to return around 7:00 pm. An adult female resident of the Spellman
House was transported to a local hospital after experiencing difficulty
breathing.

A firefighter experienced fatigue while battling the fire
and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.A member of the Office of Emergency
Management sustained an injured ankle while operating on the scene.He was treated and remained on the fire
ground.

Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale was on the scene and thanked
the personnel for their hard work in working to extinguish the fire.“The mutual aid response from our neighboring
jurisdictions was much needed, appreciated and put to good use,” said
Barksdale.“Additionally many
jurisdictions from throughout the National Capital Region filled in at our
stations ensuring the County remained protected with adequate fire and EMS resources.”Barksdale also thanked the City of College Park, American Red
Cross and Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire and Rescue Association for their assistance
in providing nourishment throughout the incident.“I also want to acknowledge the personnel at
Public Safety Communications that coordinated the dispatch of 5 Alarms with 200
personnel and apparatus and ensuring the transfers and fill-ins of our
stations,” said Barksdale.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Estimated fire loss is $39,000,000.This incident has been the largest
suppression effort and the highest fire loss estimate in the history of the
Fire/EMS Department.

All images by PGFD PIO Mark Brady unless otherwise noted.

Conditions on arrival Fire on 6th floor extends to top floor and roof. (Image by retired fire fighter Steve Wiseman)

LODD April 15, 2016

Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant John "Skillet" Ulmschneider

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